School canceled in Florida Keys

Monroe offices opening later

Because of severe weather, classes for public schools in Monroe County were canceled on Wednesday, officials said.

Bands of thunderstorms with lightning were hitting the Middle Keys and Lower Keys early Wednesday. Those conditions were expected to affect all of Monroe County for several hours.

Officials said it would not be safe for students to be waiting at bus stops, many with standing water because of the heavy rains, when frequent lightning was in the area.

Additionally, Monroe County government offices are closed until 10:30 a.m., officials said. Employees are being asked to avoid driving during hazardous conditions which are expected to improve in time for the 10:30 a.m. opening of county offices.

The meeting of the Monroe County Comission, scheduled to begin at 9 a.m., has been rescheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m.

A flood advisory was in effect for much of the Florida Keys on Wednesday. According to the National Weather Service , some portions of Monroe County had received up to two inches of rain between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m. and the ground had already been saturated from earlier rains.